THE LIFELINE

After the usual ward business the bishop slowly stood up and walked over
to the pulpit and briefly introduced a guest who was in the congregation
that day. In the introduction the bishop told the ward members the guest
was one of his dearest childhood friends, and that he wanted him to have a
few minutes to greet the congregation and share whatever he felt would be
appropriate.

With that an elderly man walked up to the pulpit and began to speak.

'A father and his son, and a friend of the son, were sailing off the
Pacific Coast,' he began, 'when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt
to get back to the shore. The waves were so high that, even though the
father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the
three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.'

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers
who were, for the first time since the meeting began, looking somewhat
interested in his story. The aged man continued with his story.

'Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating
decision of his life: To which boy would he throw the other end of the life
line? He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his
son had a firm testimony of Christ, and he also knew that his son's friend
did not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of
waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you son!' he threw out the
lifeline to his son's friend. By the time the father pulled the friend back
to the capsized boat his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into
the black of the ocean's depths. His body was never recovered.'

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew,
anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth.

'The father,' he continued, 'knew his son would step into eternity as part
of an eternal family, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend
stepping into an eternity without knowledge of the gospel. Therefore, he
sacrificed his son to save the son's friend.' 'How great is the love of God
that he should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed his only
Begotten Son that we could return to Him. I urge you,' the old man
continued, 'to accept his offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life
line He is throwing out to you.'

With that, the old man turned and sat down in his chair, as silence filled
the room. The bishop again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a few
closing comments.

Within minutes after the meeting had ended the two teenagers were at the
old man's side.

'That was a nice story,' politely stated one of them, 'but I don't think
it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes
that the other boy would accept the gospel.'

'Well, you have a point there,' the old man replied, glancing down at his
worn scriptures. Then a big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again
looked at the two boys and said, 'It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I
am standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it
must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see, I was that
father and your bishop is my son's friend.'

Author Unknown


I thought this was an amazing story. Life sure has many ups and downs. But the sideway shifts are what change our life dramatically. This month's Ensign home teaching lesson is about the saviour. His life and example is truly one without compare. What would we do without the gospel in our lives. What would we do without the Holy Ghost? There have been times that I have been without the spirit in my life. They were the darkest times in my life! I am so greatful for the Atonement!!!